We started with an AWESOME traditional turkey and stuffing dinner at our place. Then we just chilled til it was time to leave for WalMart - at 11:00 p.m.!!! Thanks to Kel's extreme BF experience we mapped out what we wanted and assigned everyone their missions. Team Meadowlark was ready to roll!!
Upon arriving at WalMart, we realized no one was following "the rules" - meaning that the 12:01 items were supposed to stay on the pallets until 12:01! People were ripping through the plastic wrap and grabbing what they wanted. Our combined need it list was:
- $88 6V battery operated Jeep for Jack
- Disney mini quad for Kel's granddaughter
- PS3 games
- Nerf gun for Tecia's son
- Blu-rays
- Bissel stick vac - $8.92!!
- 3 piece Toy Story dry erase table and chairs for Jack
We split up and accomplished nearly everything. As we got into the mile long checkout line, we were all super disappointed about not finding the Jeep! Generally speaking, I'm not a pushy or violent person, but I actually had visions of punching someone out to get my kid a Jeep!! That he doesn't even need!!
Luckily, I kept my sanity and my hands to myself. Standing there, in the line that never moves, I told Wayne I was going to look one more time... just in case. He offered to go - being as logical as always! - since I couldn't carry the box back to the line anyway! Then... we wait. Finally, he calls and says...
HE GOT ONE!!!! I nearly jumped for joy, and Kel? Well, she almost cried. Haha! We were all super excited!! Wayne brought it to us then mentioned that people were checking out in Lawn & Garden. Not wanting to lose our spot, he ran back to see if the lines were shorter. We'd been standing in the regular line for 45 minutes - Tecia and Wayne had even run to Target to see how the line was there - and we'd moved all of 2 feet. Luckily, the line in Lawn & Garden was much shorter and we were out of there in the next 30 minutes.
We ran by Target and left poor Tecia to hold a spot in line. It was freezing cold but she was totally game! Kel, Wayne and I ran to the house (luckily, Kel lives across the street!) to drop off our goodies from WalMart and then by the gas station for hot coffee. When we got back to Target, Tecia'd made some new friends but was minutes from hypothermia. Kel gave her some extra clothes, gloves and a scarf, plus her hot coffee. Next thing we know - over an hour before they were due to open - everyone is sprinting for the door!! Wayne took off with Kel and Tecia close behind while I dragged our carts over... to find out they'd simply switched the line to the other side of the store!! We'd lost some ground but were still psyched to get in and get the 40" TV on Kel and Tecia's list. Luckily, Target is much more on the ball and they handed out maps citing where each doorbuster would be. The awesome head of security also went through the line letting us all know there would be absolutely no shenanigans. Each person was only allowed one doorbuster. Any shoving, running, or hassle would result in immediate expulsion. I love it!!!
Once again, we plotted our strategy. Tecia would stay with the carts, while the rest of us snatched up the items on our list and brought them back to her, thereby avoiding the hassle of trying to fight the crowds with carts. Wayne just barely missed out on the TV - though we did see someone who'd been behind us with one and another guy with two!! He did find another, better one, for just a little bit more money, so they were happy with that. Once our carts were full, Tecia and Wayne got in line while Kel and I tried to find the couple of things we'd missed. (Never did find that 300 light strand you advertised, Target!!)
Once we checked out, we headed back to the houses to drop off our loot. It was 6 a.m. I'd been up for 24 hours straight. And we were all starving. Off to Denny's we went!
Tecia nearly fell asleep in her sandwich and Wayne had to get to work so we dropped them at their respective places then headed to KMart. About halfway through the store, my eyes began to cross and I lost all the adrenaline that'd been keeping me moving. Kel and I decided we'd done a great job and headed home.
Lucky for me, Jack wasn't due home til 3!!! I slept til 12:30 when Wayne got off work (yes, he went to work for over 5 hours after being up all night!) then got up to hide stuff and clean up a bit before Jack got home.
All in all, it was a super fun experience. We all laughed and played around, not really stressing about anything. There were a few rude, obnoxious people out there but there were also some sweeties. Especially Wayne - we women decided he deserves the Best Man of Black Friday award. He was so on the ball, didn't complain once AND had a great time!! Oh! And I must have seen half of the people I know in town. Haha! It was a great way to kick off the Christmas season and Jack is going to be so excited when he sees his new Jeep!!
